SOUTH BERKELEY SOCCER LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS The purpose of these Rules and Regulations is to provide the procedures for administering the South Berkeley Soccer League (SBSL) program. The SBSL Executive Board provide clarification and final interpretation of these procedures. The Executive Board shall review and revise, if necessary, these Rules and Regulations on a seasonal basis. Player Eligibility A. Residents outside of our county may play in our league so long as they have not been suspended from any other league and has completed the necessary forms require by the state. South Berkeley residents will be given first priority. B. Divisions/Ages for our Soccer Program are dependent on registration numbers and are subject to change. Ages for each division are as follows (note that the Soccer year goes from Fall season to Spring season, so the current year is the year of the Fall Season): Under-6 Birth Years 2012 & 2013 Under-8 Birth Years 2010 & 2011 Under-10 Birth Years 2008 & 2009 Under-12 Birth Years 2006 & 2007 Under-15 Birth Years 2003, 2004, & 2005 1
E. Players who continually exhibit unsportsmanlike conduct toward players, coaches, officials, etc., shall be reviewed by the Board to determine eligibility. F. No hard cast or braces with metal parts may be worn during games and practices II. Registration A. Every player must be registered by completing a registration form signed by either a parent or guardian, either electronically or in person, prior to that player participating in practices or games. A new form must be submitted each season (fall and spring). B. Every player s parent or legal guardian must also sign, electronically or in person the parent code of conduct and a medical release form. In some circumstances, a signed supplemental release form may be required by the league. These forms must be signed by a parent or guardian for each season in which that player participates. C. All players must be registered in the SBSL. Any team using a player not properly registered in any game will cause that game to be forfeited. The Executive Board will determine whether further penalties shall be levied on that coach, team, or player. D. Registration fees will be set each year by the Board at the May meeting. These fees will be paid before both the fall and spring seasons. If more than three siblings participate, the registration fee will be reduced. Refunds will only be awarded in cases where the family has to move before the season starts or a player is injured and unable to participate. In these cases, a refund must be requested immediately. No refunds will be given after a child has attended one practice or game, except in the event of a season ending injury. Absolutely no refunds will be given after 1 game has been played for any reason. 2
III. Team Formation Team will be formed by a draft 1. Fall Season A. All players will be enter into the draft except for the coaches child B. Drafts will be done by a snake draft. example: 1-6 picks then 6-1 C. If a player cant make the draft his/her name will be put into a hat and drawn after all players that attended has been drafted 2. Spring Season A. Returning players from fall will be not have to attend the draft unless the player made a request to be taken off the team from fall B. New Players are any players who did not play in the Fall Season. They will need to attend the draft C. Once a player has been assigned to a team that player can only practice with that team. Unless Allstar D. Waiting List: No waiting list in the spring season a. Online registration forms received after the registration deadlines will be placed on a waiting list. When an opening occurs, the player will be assigned to a team on a first-come, first-serve basis. If this assignment is refused, the player will be taken off the waiting list. b. The waiting list in any season will close when the first game is played. 3
6. Every attempt should be made to keep the maximum number of players on a U6 or U-8 team to 8, a U10 team to 12, a U12 team to 14 and U15 team to 18. IV. Recreational Team Guidelines A. Each team will have a designated coach and two assistant coach that may be on the coach s side of the field during games. No person can coach or assist more than two teams. There is no limit on the number of people that may assist during practices. Any person assisting with games or practice must have filled out an online risk management form and concussion course. All forms must be approved before they are able to help. B. If the Board is unable to recruit enough coaches for every team in their division, then the team is formed without a coach. The Board will meet with the parents of that team and advise them that they will have to take on the coaching responsibilities themselves in order to have their children participate. If a parent does not take coaching responsibility the team will be dissolved and players placed on a waiting list. The League will give coaching support in the form of coaching classes. C. The Executive Board shall approve all coaches and assistant coaches and reserves the right to dismiss a coach or assistant coach at any time during the season. D. The Board will not allow a person to coach a team if they are coaching soccer in another league during the same season. E. The Executive Board reserves the right to assign assistant coaches to different teams if warranted. 4
F. Requirements for coaching and/or assisting: 1. Completion of an online risk management application 2. Concussion course certificate. 3. Coaching course or clinic. One will be offered at the beginning of every season G. Each team will be provided with uniforms. Players must provide their own shoes (cleats), shin guards and regulation size practice ball for their division. Currently Size 3 for U6 - U8, Size 4 for U10 U12, and Size 5 for U15. H. The Board must have a code of conduct form for each team member signed by a parent or guardian. This form needs to be completed before the player can practice I. Team Practice 1. It is each coach s responsibility to supervise and teach his or her players during practices and games 2. U6- U12 shall not practice more than twice a week, nor shall practices exceed one and one-half hours in length. U15 may practice three times a week J. Coaches must offer all players the opportunity to have equal play no matter the skill set of the player. K. Coaches must turn in equipment loaned to them at the end of each season. L. Any coach not abiding by the rules may be asked not to return. 5
V. Games A. Whenever possible, games will be officiated by USSF certified referees. In every case, the judgment of the referee is final. No appeal will be allowed on any judgment call by the referee. B. Issues concerning the interpretation of rules by players, coaches, officials, or other persons connected with the League that are less serious in nature may be raised formally or informally with any member of the Board. The matter will be addressed at the next scheduled Board meeting. C. Coaches for levels U6-U10 must rotate players in all positions except goalkeeper. The player playing goalkeeper is up to the coach for safety reasons(u6 and U8 there are no goalkeepers). The U12 all players need to rotated in the game, however it is okay to start developing players in the position they like. The U15 and higher don t have to rotate players in all positions. D. No player should play the whole half of a game when a team has at least one sub. The goalkeeper is the only exception to this rule E. U10 and U12 can t use the same goalkeeper for each half. If a goalkeeper plays the first half then they can t play the second half in goal for any reason. The U15 division will be allowed to play one person as goalkeeper the whole game. This is to prepare them for the next level F. Teams and coaches are to be on the opposite side of the field from the parents whenever possible. G. Coaches must avoid running up the score. This is intended to help maintain the motivation of players and to allow them to continue to enjoy 6
playing soccer. Violations of this rule may be viewed as not keeping within the spirit of the game and considered unsporting behavior. Actions should be taken before the score is out of control. If one action doesn t contain the score then another should be added. Suggestions include: moving main scorers to defense, moving main scorer to goalie, substituting main scorers at next available opportunity, and/or requiring scorers to pass to teammates more often. In the event of an excessive point differential in his/her team s favor, the coach shall be responsible for reporting to his/her Division Commissioner actions taken to keep the score under control. The Board reserves the right to penalize a coach for disregard or repeated violations of this rule, including, but not limited to, suspension from the next match or dismissal. The league reserves the right to investigate large scoring disparities. VI. Cancellations and Reschedules A. The only grounds for rescheduling a game are because of poor or unsafe playing conditions. Rain, cold, heat, and missing players or coaches, are not of themselves factors that may cause the cancellation or rescheduling of a game. The Board member on duty may adjust the starting time of a scheduled game to accommodate any delay due to weather. NOTE: No assumptions of cancellations should be made. A cancellation of one game does not mean all other games have been cancelled. B. Lightning or Thunder If a lightning strike is seen or thunder is heard, then games/practices should be suspended and shelter sought immediately. Play should not be restarted until 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder or seeing the last strike of lightning. C. Referees/Coaches should stop a game/practice at any time they feel that conditions are unsafe (lightning, extreme high winds, tornadoes, extremely slippery conditions, etc.). 7
D. The Executive Board have sole responsibility for the rescheduling of games. E. In the event a game must be suspended because of conditions that make it impossible to continue play (weather or field conditions that make it unsafe to play), the referee shall declare it an official game if one-half or more of the game has been played. If less than one-half of the game has been played, the game may be rescheduled. F. SBSL may include one weekend each season that is designated for make-up games. VII. The Laws of the Game A match shall be played according to the Laws of the Game as set forth by the Federation International De Futbal Association (FIFA) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), except in the cases noted below: 1. Unlimited Substitutions are allowed in all divisions. 2. U-6 Games a. No official score will be kept b. Games will be 4v4 c. Field and goal size are reduced accordingly. d. No goalkeepers will be used e. No throw-ins f. Games will be divided into four 8 minute quarters g. Coaches will act as referees 8
h. game length 4 x 8 minute quarters 3. U-8 Games a. Games will be 4v4 b. Field and goal size are reduced accordingly. c. No goalies will be used d. Throw-ins may be repeated if incorrect. e. Games will be three 15 minute periods with 5 minute breaks. h. All opposing players will need to behind mid-field line on a goal kick 4. U-10 Games a. Games will be 7v7 b. Field size and goal size are reduced accordingly. c. Games will be two 25 minute halves with a 5 minute halftime h. Goalkeepers are not allowed to punt the ball i. Built-out line: all opposing players must be behind this line when goalie has control of the ball or goal kick 9
5. U-12 Games a. Games will be 9v9 b. Field and goal size are reduced accordingly. c. Games will be two 30 minute halves with a 10 minute halftime (dependent on team size). 6. U-15 Games a. Games will be two 35/30 minute halves with a 5 minute halftime (dependent on team size) b. 11v11 c. Goalkeepers can play the whole game VIII. Referees A. SBSL will not tolerate any verbal or physical abuse or assault on a referee by a spectator, player, or coach, regardless of the circumstances, location, or time of the occurrence. The League prohibits a coach or parent to approach a referee and challenge his/her call, either during or after a game. If a coach or parent has a complaint, they should discuss this with a board member. B. Referees are responsible for the enforcement of the laws of the game and for insuring proper behavior by spectators, coaches, and other team personnel. The referee may banish a coach, team official or spectator from the area where the game is being played. Most referee interaction with non-players should be through the coach. The referee may suspend the game while the banished individual leaves the area to the satisfaction 10
of the referee. If the person does not depart the area, the referee can terminate the game. Such actions must be reported to the Executive Board. C. SBSL will back its referees, players, team officials and spectators IX. Conduct A. If at any time the conduct of league officials, team coaches, players, or spectators is determined to be detrimental to SBSL or the good of soccer, such persons shall be subject to suspension by the Executive Board from participation in the soccer program of the league for such period of time as the Executive Board may deem necessary. B. Coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of their teams players and supporters while they are at a game, practice field, or facility. Improper conduct on the part of the coaches, players, or spectators may result in penalties against the individual, including expulsion from the field or facility, forfeiture of a game, or suspension under paragraph A of this section. (The referee has full jurisdiction over the game in accordance with FIFA rules.) C. Any player issued a red card or two yellow cards during one game shall be sent off for the remainder of that game and suspended for the next scheduled game in which his/her team plays. The Executive Board shall determine a suspension of a player for more than one game. D. Issues concerning the conduct of players, coaches, officials, or other persons connected with the league that are less serious in nature, or that are raised informally shall be referred to the Executive Board. The Executive Board will attempt to resolve them at the next scheduled meeting. 11
E. Issues of misconduct that are more serious in nature should be presented to the Executive Board immediately, preferably in writing. The Executive Board will attempt to resolve the issue within 1 week. X. Violation Procedures A. The referee of any SBSL sanctioned game shall note all incidents of awarded cards or disciplinary action taken against a player, coach, etc. B. The Executive will notify the involved coach within 24 hours of receiving the Game Report Sheet that any red card awarded to a player (or coach) requires a mandatory and automatic one-game suspension from the next league game that the team plays. No appeals or protests of this regulation will be heard. Failure to observe the suspension at the next game after the notification will be considered an offense on the coach s part. Any game played with a suspended player(s) or coach(s) on the field will be considered a forfeit and parties could be suspended from the league indefinitely. C. Recommended Sanctions - The following is a list of recommended sanctions that might be taken by the Board. No appeal or protest will be entertained for judgment calls by the referee. Penalty * (accumulated over one season) 2 yellow cards - An Executive Board member will meet with or call the offending player s coach. 1 red card - 1 game suspension; contact coach. 3 yellow cards - 1 game suspension; contact coach. 2 red cards - 2 game suspension; Executive Board action required. 3 red cards - Suspension for 6 games 12
* The accumulated total for determining sanctions will not be held over from one season to the next. All players, coaches, and league members will begin each season with totals of zero (0). A season is defined as a single period of uninterrupted, officially scheduled, and sanctioned matches covering a minimum of five (5) games (including tournaments in the relevant season.) Sanctions that are unserved or partially served at the end of one season, however, will be served at the beginning of the next season the player plays or as determined by the Board. In addition, the Executive Board is permitted to impose additional sanctions and penalties over and above those recommended. Any single action, incident, or willful and continued disregard for the Rules and Regulations and/or the SBSL Code of Conduct can be cause for the immediate forfeiture of privileges in any activities of the League, including practices, tournaments and games. XI. Procedure for player early advancement. A. The player s parent or guardian should submit the early advancement form to the coach at least four weeks before the last regular season game. B. The Director of Coaching and the President or VP should observe the player during two games and provide a detailed assessment and recommendation to the board. C. The Executive Board should make the determination whether the player can move up or not based on the recommendations of the coach and director of coaching. This determination should be kept on file for one (1) year. D. Parents should be informed of the board s decision in writing (email is okay). 13